INSTRUCTORS

Tetsuji Nakamura Sensei

Nakmura Sensei has been training in Goju-Ryu Karate for over 30 years. He studied in Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate, with Morio Higaonna Sensei, a direct student of Chojun Miyagi Sensei, founder of Goju-Ryu Karate. He was Higaonna Sensei’s main assistant instructor from 1991-1997, then moved to Canada, where he became Chief Instructor and Administrative Director for IOGKF. He was promoted to IOGKF World Chief Instructor in 2012.

Nakamura Sensei has won three World Championships: two in kumite and one in kata

Nakamura Sensei teaches karate around the world. He holds a law degree and teacher’s license for Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Kagawa University, Japan. He holds the rank of 7th dan in Goju-Ryu Karate and 2nd dan in Judo.

Sensei Ernie Molyneux

Sensei Ernie has had a long karate career, which began before the IOGKF era. He started training in judo as a boy, then joined a boxing club. He found karate in 1972, when he was 18. After watching a three-hour class taught by Bob Greenhalgh, he couldn’t wait to get started and stayed until the dojo closed down in 1977. Sensei Ernie continued to train with Bob Greenhalgh and opened his own dojo in Liverpool

He became involved in what was to become IOGKF after attending a seminar with Sensei James Rousseau in 1974, and first trained with Higaonna Sensei in 1977 - the IOGKF Grand Master has been a role model for him ever since. Sensei Ernie took over Bournemouth Karate Academy in 1982, and it now has an impressive collection of trophies from both national and international kata and kumite competitions. He took his shodan under Sensei James Rousseau in 1978, achieving 8th dan in 2012.

Sensei Ernie can’t imagine not training in Goju Ryu Karate, and still feels he has plenty to learn. He wants to pass on his experience and give his students the opportunities he’s had.

Sensei Henrik Larsen

IOGKF World Vice Chief Instructor
Chief Instructor, Denmark

Sensei Henrik Larsen has trained karate for over 42 years and currently holds the rank of 8th dan.

In 1994, Sensei Henrik Larsen was selected join the IOGKF's Executive Committee, which acts in an advisory capacity for Higaonna Sensei. Henrik Sensei is the longest serving member of the Executive Committee, which today is comprised of Nakamura Sensei, Ernie Sensei and Henrik Sensei.

In 1998, Henrik Sensei successfully completed a 3-year Elite Training Course at The University of Southern Denmark. This course was specifically designed for National Trainers and Coaches, and is one the European Union’s most advanced courses for trainers and coaches.

Henrik Sensei has previously served as Vice President for the Danish Karate Association and National Coach/Trainer for the junior national team. Henrik Sensei has also taught in over 30 countries.

Henrik Sensei runs and teaches in Nykøbing F. Karate Club, which is Denmark’s largest karate club, with over 400 members. During the course of Henrik Sensei's teaching career, Nykøbing F. Karate Club has produced an impressive number of both World and European Masters.

Instructors also teaching at this event

Sensei George Andrews - 8th Dan, England

Sensei George Andrews was awarded 8th Dan at the World Budosai in 2012 and is Chief Instructor for OTGKA.

He first got interested in martial arts in 1960, when he boxed for his school. He took his first karate class in 1967, in the Mushindo style (a mixture of karate styles). He met Higaonna Sensei in 1977, and has trained under him ever since.

Sensei Jorge Monteiro - 8th Dan, Portugal

Sensei Jorge Monteiro was graded to 8th Dan in 2015, and has been Chief Instructor for Portugal since 1988.

Jorge Monteiro started karate training in 1974, first in Shotokai and then in Shotokan. In 1977, he met Higaonna Sensei in Porto in Portugal, and began to practice Goju-Ryu. In 1979 he attended the first international Goju-Ryu Gasshuku in England, during which IOGKF was founded.

Sensei Luis Nunes - 8th Dan, Spain

Sensei Luis is the Chief Instructor for Spain and has taught in over 15 different countries.

He began his Karate training in the 1970s and has been a loyal student of Sensei Higaonna since 1978. He got his Shodan at the first ever IOGKF European Gasshuku in 1980.

He has a very energetic and passionate teaching style.

Sensei Roy Flatt - 8th Dan, England

Sensei Roy Flatt is one of EGKA’s most senior instructors. With almost 40 years of karate training under his belt, he’s in demand as an instructor across Europe and the rest of the world.

His extensive career in the security industry has given him first-hand experience of the effectiveness of traditional karate’s fighting and self-defence techniques.

He has a quick sense of humour and a no-nonsense approach to training that benefits every student.

Sensei Takashi Masuyama - 8th Dan, Sweden

Sensei Masuyama holds an 8th Dan in IOGKF and Okinawan Goju-ryu.

He is from Japan, but now lives in Sweden, where he has a private dojo - though he often says that Okinawa is the best place in the world to practice karate.

He is well known for his high kata level and ability to teach in a way that makes things easy to understand.

Sensei Masuyama has a very gentle manner and a motivating training style.

Sensei Paul Nolan - 7th Dan, England

Sensei Paul Nolan is one of EGKA’s most senior instructors.

He began training in 1974. Since then, he has accumulated a wealth of karate knowledge and motivational tools that help him get the best out of students of all levels.

He has spent over 20 years teaching traditional karate in schools.

Sensei Linda Marchant - 7th Dan, England

Sensei Linda Marchant is a senior EGKA instructor and the highest ranking woman in IOGKF. She’s committed to karate and regularly travels to Okinawa to train with Higaonna Sensei.

Sensei Linda lives in London and teaches at Tooting Dojo, which gets plenty of international visitors. She has become an inspiring instructor for martial artists everywhere, and has taught at gasshukus all over the world.

Sensei Torben Svendson - 7th Dan, Denmark

Sensei Torben started karate training in 1976, and has been a member of IOGKF since Denmark joined the organisation in 1986. Over the last 30 years, he has participated in over 100 gasshukus all over the world.

Sensei Torben’s approach to Goju-Ryu is based on self-defense: the training of practical bunkai as well as the underlying health aspects of karate.

Sensei Britt Larsen - 7th Dan, Denmark

Sensei Britt Larsen is a senior instructor within IOGKF Denmark. She is one of the top ranking women in IOGKF and an impressive karate instructor.

She’s had an remarkable tournament career, and has coached the Danish kata team for the World Karate Federation International Championships.